How I Travel

I don’t have a secret formula to seamlessly smooth travel. My trips aren’t seamlessly smooth, so I don’t use formulas. They’re fun, and you don’t need predictability for that. More than once after a trip, I think, “Next time, I’m definitely not going to do [fill in the blank] again.”

I’ve been complimented on my ability to explore and many of my friends turn to me for travel advice. They tell me I’m a free spirit. They expect me to know the answers when it comes to what flight to take or which city to visit. They question how I venture off alone. Well, how do I not? I have a bad case of wanderlust.

I don’t believe that I’m free as the wind, or brave, or that I know what I’m doing, or I that have the answers to their questions. I don’t know what I’m doing. I haven’t mastered the art of packing or un-feeling goodbyes. I don’t know what will work out and what will not. Decisions cause me to knot up with anxiety and multiple choices leave me mentally gridlocked. But, somehow, I figure it. It’s a figure it out as it’s happening sort of thing.

Last night, when chatting with a friend, he asked how my itinerary for the last trip went. I thought for a moment, and realized that it would be much too confusing to try and explain. I was all over the map. No exaggeration. My parents have given up on keeping track of me, and when I phoned them this morning, their surprised response was, “Oh! You’re back?!”

Passed a Tattoo & Piercing Shop where we met Arthur, who pierced my nose, then took us to the Coffeehouse so Emily could have her fortune told in a cup of turkish coffee. Arthur translated what the Johnny Depp look alike said.

Emily is over Istanbul.

October 6: Munich

Catch a very early flight from IST to MUC. As soon as we arrive we catch the train to Karlsplatz, where we eat breakfast, and then go to buy Dirndls.

Check into The Westin Grand. Change into our Oktoberfest outfits and venture out. We don’t really have any idea what to expect.

After being un-welcomingly adopted by a young Italian, we caught sight of four stunningly tall and handsome young men. Not just one or two, but all four gorgeous, tall, dressed, of course, in Lederhosen. I know I have a weakness for European men, and for some reason Lederhosen is just hot. We were hoping to stumble upon a couple of German hotties. Seek and you shall find:)